Charles “Chuck” Geitner represents business clients in a variety of complex commercial disputes and regulatory matters. His clients include auto retailers, banks, warranty companies, manufacturers, members of the insurance industry and medical equipment and information technology companies.

As Florida counsel for a Fortune 500 auto retail group, and in representing various auto dealerships throughout the state, Mr. Geitner has substantial experience advising these businesses in the areas of finance, warranty and insurance sales and regulatory compliance with state agencies that oversee their business operations. In addition, he advises dealerships with respect to satisfying advertising, transaction disclosure and titling statutes and regulations. Moreover, he litigates on their behalf, defending them against products liability claims, protecting their franchise rights and defending these businesses against class actions.

With respect to intellectual property, Mr. Geitner advises and assists businesses in protecting their trademarks, service marks and trade secrets, and structures contracts with employees who handle sensitive, confidential business information. He also litigates claims on behalf of and defends businesses in matters involving their patents, copyrights and trademarks.

Mr. Geitner has defended insureds for Chubb Group of Insurers in the areas of officer and director liability, errors and omissions claims (usually for software and financial services industry members) and professional malpractice claims.

In the course of resolving litigation between commercial parties and their shareholders, Mr. Geitner often assists his clients in restructuring their corporate form to facilitate reaching an amicable settlement. Mr. Geitner joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as a partner in May 2009 after leaving Broad and Cassel, where he was a partner and co-chair of the firm’s automotive industry team.

Prior to his legal career, he worked for First Union National Bank (Wachovia), where he was a bank manager and loan officer.

Mr. Geitner is a member of The Florida Bar, Hillsborough County Bar Association and the Florida Automobile Dealers Association. In addition, he is a member of National Association of Dealer Counsel and was a past chair of its finance and Insurance Section. Mr. Geitner’s presentations include “Repos, Collections & Bankruptcy: Avoiding the Legal Pitfalls that can Sink Your BHPH Portfolio,” at the 2010 Florida Independent Automobile Dealers Association (FIADA), in St. Pete Beach, Florida, October 2010. Mr. Geitner’s activities include:

• Board Member IT Florida
• Board Member Florida 2.0 Initiative
• Member Leadership Tampa 2009 (Tampa Chamber of Commerce)
• Moot Court Judge - Stetson Environmental Law Moot Court Competition